The Empty Cradle Will Rock: How abortion is costing the Democrats voters--literally

Larry L. Eastland

More than 40 million legal abortions have been performed and documented in the 30 years since the U.S. Supreme Court declared abortion legal. The debate remains focused on the legality and morality of abortion. What's largely ignored is a factual analysis of the political consequences of 40 million abortions. Consider:

There were 12,274,368 in the Voting Age Population of 205,815,000 missing

from the 2000 presidential election, because of abortions from 1973-82.

In this year's election, there will be 18,336,576 in the Voting Age

Population missing because of abortions between 1972 and 1986.

In the 2008 election, 24,408,960 in the Voting Age Population will be

missing because of abortions between 1973-90.

These numbers will not change. They are based on individual choices made--aggregated
nationally--as long as 30 years ago. Look inside these numbers at where the political impact is
felt most. Do Democrats realize that millions of Missing Voters--due to the abortion policies they
advocate--gave George W. Bush the margin of victory in 2000?

The number of abortions accumulate in size and political impact as the years roll along. Like an
avalanche that picks up speed, mass, and power as it thunders down a mountain, the number of
Missing Voters from abortion changes the landscape of politics. The absence of the missing voters
may not be noticed, but that doesn't mean its political impact disappears. As seen during a famine,
what no longer exists becomes as relevant as what does.

Let's begin with the obvious: Children born in any given year arrive at
voting age in 18 years; conversely, children not born in a given year are
"Missing Voters" 18 years later. Permanently so, unless someone discovers a way
to give birth to a teenager in a nine-month gestation period. This table gives
the number of Missing Voters from abortion and election years affected:

Table 1: Abortions in the U.S.,
1973-90

Years

Abortions

Aggregated

ElectionAffected

1973-74

1,643,200

1,643,200

1992

1975-78

4,939,800

6,583,000

1996

1979-82

6,202,800

12,785,800

2000

1983-86

6,314,800

19,100,600

2004

1987-90

6,325,400

25,426,000

2008

The question arises: Who would these Missing Voters have been if they had reached voting age?
What would their values have been? How would they have voted? What impact would they have had on
the great debates in America, including the abortion debate?